John Kirkland Clark

John Kirkland Clark
Clark in 1914
Biographical details
BornJanuary 21, 1877
Springfield, Massachusetts
DiedJanuary 20, 1963
Charlemont, Massachusetts
Alma materYale College
Playing career
1896–1899Yale College
1901–1902Harvard College
1902–190817th Separate Company of Flushing New York
1909–1910Poughkeepsie Bridge Jumpers of the Hudson River Basketball League
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1901–1902Harvard College
Head coaching record
Overall20–13

John Kirkland Clark, Sr. (January 21, 1877 – January 20, 1963) was an American lawyer, college basketball player and the first head coach of the Harvard College men's basketball team. Clark was a New York City assistant district attorney under Charles S. Whitman, the New York County District Attorney. In New York, Clark was appointed to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption.[1] He was president of the New York State Board of Law Examiners from 1921 his retirement in 1943.[2] Clark served as a member of the Loyalty Review Board established by U.S. President Harry S. Truman.

Biography

Clark was born on January 21, 1877, in Springfield, Massachusetts to Edward Perkins Clark editorial writer for the New York Evening Post and the writer Kate Upson Clark.[3][4] Clark grew up in Springfield, Milwaukee, Washington DC and Philadelphia before his family settled in Brooklyn.[5] Clark graduated from Yale College in 1899 and from Harvard Law School in 1902. Clark's brothers were Charles Upson Clark who discovered the Barberini Codex and George Maxwell, President of Clark & Gibby, Inc. of New York.[6] He died on January 20, 1963.[7]

Basketball

Clark played three seasons for Yale College men's basketball from 1896 to 1899 as a 5'10" 160 lb Guard. While attending Harvard Law School, Clark brought basketball to the attention of the Harvard Athletics Department and served as the first head coach as well as player for the Harvard College men's basketball team for the 1901 and 1902 seasons.[8][9][10] For the first Harvard Yale basketball game in 1901 Clark served as referee instead of a player because he was a Yale alum and his brother George Maxwell Clark was playing for Yale.[11] Clark posted a 20–13 record at Harvard. Clark played independent basketball for the 17th Separate Company of Flushing New York from 1902 to 1908 and for the Poughkeepsie Bridge Jumpers for the Hudson River Basketball League 1909–1910.

Selected Works

  • Let the Maker Beware. (St. John's Law Review 1945 volume 19 number 2)[12]
  • Preparation of Cross-Examination (Practicing Law Institute 1946)[13]

References

  1. ^ "Clark Appointed Chief Graft Hunter; Named by Assembly Committee as Counsel. Has Whitman's Data Available at Start". New York Times. February 17, 1914. Retrieved 2010-10-08. The Assembly Graft Investigating Committee met this evening and appointed as its counsel John Kirkland Clark, one of District Attorney Whitman's assistants, who has been prominent in the Whitman investigations. Mr. Clark was present at the meeting, and accepted the appointment.
  2. ^ "John K. Clark, 85, Dies; Headed State Law Board". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  3. ^ John William Leonard (author) and Frank R. Holmes (1909). "John Kirkland Clark". Who's who in New York City and State. Lawyer: b. Springfield, Mass., Jan. 21, 1877; to Edward P. and Catherine P. (Upson) Clark (mother is well-known author "Kate Upson Clark"); grad. Polytechnic Prep. Sch., Brooklyn, ... Yale Univ., A.Lit., 1899, Harvard Law Sch., LL.B., cum laude, 1902; m. N. Y. City, June 16, 1903, Margaret Chalmers Holbrook; children: Anna Holbrook Clark, b. 1904, John Kirkland Clark, Jr., b. 1906. Admitted to N. Y. Bar, 1903; associated with Hornblower, Byrne, Miller & Potter, 1902–04; now one of attorneys in Legal Dep't, N. Y. Life Ins. Co. Independent Republican. Congregationalism Mem. Ass'n Bar N. Y. City, Phi Beta Kappa Soc. Alpha Delta Phi. Address: 746 St. Nicholas Av., N. Y. City. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "ROSEMARY DUDLEY PROSPECTIVE BRIDE; Will be Married to William H. Clark, Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kirkland Clark". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ "The Brooklyn Daily Eagle". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 1935-02-18. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  6. ^ "TimesMachine: Tuesday August 21, 1945 - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  7. ^ "John K. Clark, 85, Dies; Headed State Law Board". New York Times. January 21, 1963. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  8. ^ Berkman, Seth (2015-03-07). "Yale Beats Harvard to Take Control of Ivy League". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  9. ^ "BASKET BALL AT HARVARD.; Intercollegiate Games Being Arranged for Buffalo Exposition". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  10. ^ "TimesMachine: Saturday March 8, 1902 - NYTimes.com". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  11. ^ "YALE TEAM BEAT HARVARD.; Victors Rolled Up 41 Points in a Basket Ball Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  12. ^ Clark, John (2013-07-11). "Let the Maker Beware". St. John's Law Review. 19 (2).
  13. ^ "Preparation of cross-examination / John Kirkland Clark. Technique of cross-examination / Wm. Henry Gallagher". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2024-04-21.